Mayor: No need for YMCA in city

Plans to bring a YMCA to Greenwood are no longer being considered, but the mayor says the facility isn’t needed.

In 2014, the YMCA decided not to run the city’s aquatic center, Freedom Springs, and put off plans for a facility with an indoor pool and gym for at least three years.

Since then, the mayor has had no conversations with the YMCA, and the city is planning for a newly proposed indoor ice rink to be built on the land once developed for a potential new YMCA.

But Greenwood Mayor Mark Myers said a new YMCA really isn’t needed in the city, with Freedom Springs offering options for swimming and the newly remodeled Greenwood Community Center offering plenty of options for people who want to work out or take fitness classes.

“There is nothing we are waiting on or pursuing,” Myers said.

YMCA officials were not available last week or on Monday for comment.

In 2013, the YMCA had proposed partnering with the city to run the then-proposed aquatic center, which had not yet been built, and construct an indoor facility with an indoor pool, exercise room and gym next door.

When the city developed Freedom Park, a piece of land was readied for a future YMCA.

But in 2014, YMCA officials decided not to manage the new aquatic center, and also put off plans for the indoor facility for at least three to five years, while they focused on other Indianapolis area facilities.

Greenwood instead hired Counsilman-Hunsaker to help open the new aquatic center, and has since taken over management of the center.

And now, the Greenwood Iceplex is planned to be built on the 6 acres of land previously set aside for the YMCA.

The city is planning to lease the park land to minor-league hockey team Indy Fuel owners Jim and Sean Hallett, who plan to develop the $20 million, 115,000-square-foot complex with two to four ice rinks. Construction on the facility is expected to begin in the fall and will take one year to 18 months to complete.